Reframing Perceptions in Restorative Dentistry: Evidence-Based Dentistry and Clinical Decision-Making

Ayah A Al-Asmar; Ahmad S Al-Hiyasat; Motasum Abu-Awwad; Hakam N Mousa; Nesreen A Salim; Waed Almadani; Furat Rihan; Faleh A Sawair; Nigel B Pitts

doi:10.1155/2021/4871385

Reframing Perceptions in Restorative Dentistry: Evidence-Based Dentistry and Clinical Decision-Making

Int J Dent. 2021 Dec 31:2021:4871385. doi: 10.1155/2021/4871385. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Ayah A Al-Asmar¹, Ahmad S Al-Hiyasat², Motasum Abu-Awwad³, Hakam N Mousa⁴, Nesreen A Salim³, Waed Almadani⁵, Furat Rihan⁵, Faleh A Sawair⁴, Nigel B Pitts⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Conservative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
² Department of Conservative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
³ Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
⁴ Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
⁵ Dentist, Private Sector, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
⁶ Dental Innovation and Impact, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences King's College, London, UK.

Abstract

Objectives: The worldwide interest of both dentists and patients in esthetic dentistry has affected decision-making in dental practice. The aim of this study was to investigate contemporary dental practice in restorative dentistry and the relationship between evidence-based dentistry in caries research and decision-making in clinical practice in restorative dentistry.

Methods: The study was conducted through a structured questionnaire distributed randomly at the Jordanian Dental Association registered dentists in Jordan. The questionnaire aimed to clarify the degree of knowledge and practice of evidence-based dentistry in caries research the dentists hold regarding clinical decision-making in restorative dentistry.

Results: The majority of the surveyed dentists (77%) treat teeth with irreversible pulpitis with root canal treatment rather than vital pulp therapy. 13.8% routinely insert a post and 23% routinely crown the tooth after root canal treatment regardless of the remaining tooth structure. Badly damaged teeth are treated with full crowns in 72% of the cases. Regarding Hollywood smile or smile makeover, the majority of dentists choose conservative approaches, and implants were the first choice to replace missing teeth for 93.8% of the surveyed dentists.

Conclusion: A higher degree of implementation of evidence-based dentistry in clinical decision-making was found in Prosthetic Dentistry than in Endodontics. Yet, the gap between evidence-based data and clinical practice needs bridging. More emphasis on communicating these data to educators to integrate them into the dental curriculum is a must.